Lo over the moon after landing wild-card invite to Olympic party

Cynthia Lo Ka-kay has still not got over the shock of getting her ticket to Athens. The 22-year-old is the only local athlete - of the 33 who qualified - going to the Games on a special invitation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

'I just can't believe that I was picked above others who have been shooting for a much longer time than I have. I'm surprised I got a chance,' Lo said yesterday.

Lo, a 22-year-old statistics major from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, will take part in the women's air pistol 40 shots event at the Games from August 13-29.

She has been on cloud nine, and relishing the prospect of taking part in her first Olympic Games, ever since the Hong Kong Shooting Association informed her last month that the IOC had given the SAR a wild-card entry for shooting - and that they had nominated her.

'There are others who are much older and more experienced than me. So I was surprised when I heard that I would be the one to represent Hong Kong in shooting,' said Lo, who has been shooting only for the past four years. 'I will try my best.'

All the other athletes, in the nine other sports, have qualified for the Olympics through hard work. Lucky Lo will join them because of the IOC's decision to offer Hong Kong a wild card.